Events This Week

Kick off the start of college football season at this celebration concert. The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University meet the University of Kentucky Wildcats at LP Field at 8:15 pm. Laura Bell Bundy will perform at this free pre-game concert in Riverfront Park at 5:30 pm. To celebrate College Colors Day, wear the colors and apparel of your favorite college or university to the concert.

The National Folk Festival is a free, three-day outdoor event. Celebrating the traditions of American culture in music, dance, crafts, foods, storytelling and more, the National Folk Festival offers something for everyone. A wide array of continuous music and dance performances by the finest traditional artists from all parts of the nation. Visit nationalfolkfestival.com for a complete schedule of activities. This is the first year of a 3-year run for the festival in Music City. Click here for the closest parking options for the festival. The State of TN parking lots will be open to the public for this festival. Also, the hours for the blue line of the Music City Circuit will be extended until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday nights of the festival! A great way to park in the downtown core and catch a ride to the festival site.

Additionally, several downtown merchants will have special offerings during the crawl. Morton's The Steakhouse (618 Church Street) will offer their discounted "Bar Bites" menu all night during the crawl, with special menu items priced between $5-$6. Morton's will continue to offer this special during First Saturday Art Crawl nights through the end of the year. The Peanut Shop (19 Arcade) will host "Cupcakes for Cancer," a bake sale benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The library's hit music series continues with concerts in the courtyard! Bring your lunch and enjoy free music by top acts in many genres every Tuesday through October 11. Serenatta performs on Tuesday, September 6.

Teams of two to four members will compete to win two 2011-12 Predators Full Season ticket packages in this on-foot scavenger hunt around downtown Nashville. One member of each team must be a subscriber of Smashville Text (text 'Gold' to 37048). Prizes will also be awarded to the teams with the best team name, costumes and more. Teams must register by Thursday, September 8 by clicking here.

Attention: Road Closures!

National Folk Festival
- James Robertson Parkway from 5th Avenue to Rosa Parks Blvd will be closed from Thursday, September 1 at 6 pm until Monday, September 5 at 5 am

College Football Kick-off Concert
- 1st Avenue from Broadway to Church Street will be closed on Thursday, September 1
- Broadway from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue will be restricted to one eastbound lane and one westbound lane on Thursday, September 1
- Woodland Street bridge will remain open

Looking to live downtown?

Convention Update

Large groups and events that are downtown August 31 - September 14 include College Colors Game Day Kickoff: Western Kentucky University vs. University of Kentucky (50,000, September 1 -2), National Folk Festival (30,000 (September 2 - 4), The Endocrine Society (400, September 6 - 11), Home Decorating and Remodeling Show (5,000, September 9 - 11), and Optimum Solutions (250, September 13 - 15). For information concerning conventions, call 615-259-4782. Click here for a complete listing of Nashville conventions: visitmusiccity.com/conventions/.

Submit downtown area events, news, and other information to be published in thisnewsletter by using our online form or by contacting Andrea Champion (743-3097)at the latest by the Monday of the week to be profiled.